THE GAA are prepared to give formal recognition to the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) – but only on more agreeable terms than those demanded by the players’ body. With the contentious issue forced back on to the table following the GPA’s withdrawal of members from TV interviews for this weekend’s two provincial finals, the GAA will this morning outline a fresh set of proposals which they hope will bring the matter to a conclusion in the near future.

Central to any such agreement, however, is the issue of GPA funding. Completely separate from the issue of the Government grants for intercounty players, the GPA last week declared their demand for a minimum of five per cent of the GAA’s national annual commercial income. Five per cent is currently worth around €2 million. Yet the GAA simply aren’t prepared to go that far.

GAA president Christy Cooney and director general Páraic Duffy will be present at this morning’s press conference in Croke Park to make what will be their first response to the GPA’s latest stance. In a statement issued last week, the GAA merely said they were “disappointed by the action planned by the GPA around the Munster and Leinster finals”, although clearly they are now willing to engage on the matter.

At a GPA press conference last Thursday, chief executive Dessie Farrell confirmed that previous talks on recognition had broken down largely on the issue of funding: “I think that is an issue that was one of the stumbling blocks,” said Farrell, “but there were others. There’s also an issue around questions of control and responsibility for player welfare and who actually assumes responsibility for the player welfare function.

“This agenda wasn’t about creeping professionalism, but providing for players in a way we need to off the field particularly. We’ve outlined to the GAA that the minimum percentage we’re prepared to accept is five per cent of commercial income, which revolves around gate receipts, TV rights and sponsorship monies.”

But it’s hard to see the GAA agreeing to that. A spokesperson for the association last night pointed to comments made by previous GAA president Nickey Brennan at last April’s congress in Cork, which would appear to suggest they have no intention of handing over that sort of money, at least not without better assurances of where it’s going.

“Negotiations with the GPA collapsed because they requested a specific percentage of GAA income to fund their activities and this was a scenario we were not prepared to contemplate,” said Brennan. “We were prepared to offer funding towards specific projects and initiatives, but allocating a percentage of our income would ultimately result in reduced funding being made available for GAA projects plus a significant lessening of financial support to units at all levels.

“This would not have been acceptable under any circumstances to our association. In 2008, between the funds expended by counties and by Croke Park, in excess of €30 million was spent funding player-related activities of one kind or another. Regrettably, this level of commitment was never adequately acknowledged or appreciated by the GPA at any stage during our discussions.”

Farrell also hinted last week that the GPA were prepared to make further protests on the issue if necessary.

In the meantime Farrell will this afternoon appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism where the issue of the Government grant scheme will be much more to the fore. This appearance was agreed several weeks back, but the issue has moved on further as the Minister for Sport Martin Cullen continues to seek some sort of compromise with the GPA to allow the scheme to continue, although not in the current form that sees €3.5 million spread out among all intercounty footballers and hurlers.

The absence of player TV interviews ahead of Sunday’s two provincial finals hasn’t dampened interest, with the Leinster football final between Dublin and Kildare in Croke Park a virtual sell-out.

The Dublin County Board last night confirmed there will be no general sale of tickets from their allocation, and with all of Kildare’s allocation also taken up by the county’s clubs, it appears at this stage that there won’t be any further sale to the general public.

Sales through other outlets such as the Leinster Council and ticketmaster have also run out, suggesting Croke Park will be an 82,300 sell-out. The fact Dublin and Kildare also meet in the minor final has only heightened interest in the two counties.

The wider issue of how Croke Park tickets are allocated was also raised at the Dublin County Board meeting on Monday night, after several delegates aired their concerns about the poor quality of seated tickets they received for the Leinster semi-final against Westmeath last Sunday week.

The problem was blamed on a new ticket policy in Croke Park whereby sponsors and GAA season ticket-holders are given the preferred seats, when many of them didn’t show up on the day. The Dublin board said they will take up the matter with Croke Park.